help: Nero 6 wont recognize blank dvd media! what gives?

[wyteone]

okay havent been here in awhile but since i got a new system im back for some help!
basically i picked up a Sony vaio that came with a sony dvd rw dw-u18a burner... now the problem is when i use the preinstalled burning software, drag n' drop CD+DVD it sees the blank media no problem but, when i use either nero6 or dvd decrypter i have the hardest time making the software see the dvd-r? it keeps telling me... "medium not present" etc. basically i keep ejecting the blank and make the drive reload the blank until the program recognizes the media which takes ahwile! so thats my problem in a nut shell, this might not be the correct forum for this but im not to sure where else to put this.
all i know is i need some help!
i looked around the net and basically it seems some have this problem but no one knows the answer?!

thanx in advance.

[bazooka]

Have you tried cleaning the lens?

[wyteone]

hmm let me clarify... i have a brand new sony vaio desktop PCV RS630G to be exact
now the issue is... only with third party burning software, ie dvd decrypter, nero, etc... the programs have some trouble "seeing" the DVD media. only after numberous attempts reloading the drive eventually the dvd media will be recognized ( and i do mean numerous attempts)
funny thing thou, with the sony preinstalled software theres no problem with the media being recognized.
i was told firmware upgrades would do but theres no such firmware upgrade possible?!

someone help!

[bazooka]

It could be a defective drive.